Abstract: A method for determining, in real-time, an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) clutch torque includes receiving vehicle data in real-time, wherein the vehicle data includes a torque request, determining a preliminary eLSD clutch torque using a neural network and the vehicle data, determining clutch torque bounds of the eLSD using a physics-based model, determining whether the preliminary eLSD clutch torque is outside the clutch torque bounds of the eLSD, adjusting the preliminary eLSD clutch torque using clutch torque bounds to determine a final clutch torque of the eLSD in response to determining that the preliminary eLSD clutch torque is outside the clutch torque bounds of the eLSD, and commanding, in real-time, the eLSD to apply the final clutch torque to a clutch of the eLSD.

Abstract: A method for determining a tire tread wear estimation of a tire includes receiving, by a controller, a direct tire tread wear measurement, when available, performing an indirect tire tread wear estimation, performing a data fusion of the indirect tire tread wear estimation with the direct tire tread wear measurement when available, estimating a percentage tire life remaining and a mileage to end of tire life, and estimating a refined tire tread wear calibration coefficient for performing future indirect tire tread wear estimations.

Abstract: A throttle body for an engine or fuel cell of a vehicle is provided. The throttle body comprises a cylindrical housing comprising a first open end extending to a second open end defining an inner wall having an inner surface. The throttle body further comprises a moveable blade valve movably disposed on the inner wall and arranged to regulate air to the engine during operation of the vehicle. The moveable blade valve has an outer surface. The throttle body further comprises a dual-phase thermal composite coating (TCC) disposed on one of the inner surface of the inner wall and outer surface of the moveable blade valve for enhanced thermal conductivity and reduced deposit accumulation on the inner surface and the outer surface. The dual-phase TCC comprises a first material comprising between 10 wt % and 90 wt %, and a second material comprising between 10 wt % and 90 wt % of the dual-phase TCC. The dual phase TCC has a contact angle of between 100° and 160° and a thermal conductivity of at least 0.3 W/mK.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems and logic for battery charge control and information display, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of operating a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving vehicle location data indicating a real-time location of the vehicle and determining if the vehicle's real-time location is within a virtual geofence that delineates a predefined geographic area. If the real-time vehicle location is within the virtual geofence, the controller receives user location data indicating a real-time location of a vehicle user and determines if the user's real-time location is within a predefined proximity to the vehicle. If the user is within the predefined proximity to the vehicle, the controller responsively determines if a vehicle battery is charging; if so, the controller transmits a command signal to a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation related to the charging of the vehicle battery.

Abstract: A power-densifying charging station includes a low-power charging module (LPCM), a direct current (DC) storage device, electrical switches, and a controller. The LPCM receives a low-power input voltage from a low-power energy source. The DC storage device accumulates a high-power DC voltage from the low-power input voltage during a charge accumulation stage of operation. The switches selectively connect the charging station to the energy source, the LPCM to the DC storage device, and the DC storage device to a high-voltage offboard battery pack during a charge delivery stage of operation. The controller is in communication with and operable for controlling the LPCM, the DC storage device, and the switches during the charge accumulation and delivery stages of operation via performance of a corresponding method.

Abstract: A battery pack includes an elongated exhaust conduit defining a gas flow channel. The exhaust conduit includes a longitudinal center axis and a terminal end having a pack vent. The battery pack also includes fins disposed within the gas flow channel, and a plurality of battery cells arranged adjacent to the exhaust conduit. Each respective battery cell includes an outer casing defining a cell cavity. The casing defines a cell vent opening. An anode and a cathode are disposed within the cell cavity, and a vent cap covers the cell vent opening. The vent cap opens at a predetermined pressure to release hot gasses from the cell cavity into the gas flow channel. The fins direct the hot gasses along the longitudinal center axis and toward the terminal end of the exhaust conduit, and thus to the pack vent for discharge to the surrounding ambient environment.

Abstract: An apparatus for prismatic battery cell is provided. The apparatus includes a hard outer case defining an internal volume. The apparatus further includes an electrode stack disposed within the internal volume and includes a pair of an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. The electrode stack further includes a plurality of electrode pair layers stacked parallel to each other. The electrode pair layers each include a planar surface. The apparatus further includes a built-in spring configured for pressing against the electrode stack in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface of each of the electrode pair layers.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for a sensor synchronization system. In some aspects, a method includes synchronizing sensors of an autonomous vehicle (AV) to cause sampling of a first sensor of the sensors to occur in alignment with sampling of a second sensor of the sensors; determining a sampling time point for the first sensor based on the synchronizing the sensors, the sampling time point comprising a time when the first sensor is in alignment with the second sensor; providing the sampling time point to the first sensor; determining, at a controller circuit of the first sensor, an offset of the first sensor to apply to a local system time of the first sensor to cause a data acquisition of the first sensor to occur at the sampling time point; and causing the data acquisition to be performed at the first sensor using the sampling time point and the offset.

Abstract: A method that includes obtaining demand data, consumer data, and historical demand data, the demand data represents a demand of consumers for a supply over a past time period in a geographic zone. The demand data includes a recent time segment having unreliable demand information. The consumer data. The method further includes, based on the demand data, estimating a scalar of the demand, and, based on the historical demand data, modeling a standardized model demand profile of mean demand over multiple past time periods. Further, the method includes producing a short-term demand prediction of the consumers of the supply over a portion of a forthcoming time period. The short-term demand prediction is based, at least in part, on the standardized model demand profile, the demand data, and the consumer data.